Saratoga Springs, Mohonasen claim 2026 Section 2 boys' golf championships

MECHANICVILLE - Saratoga Springs didn't win the Belmont Stakes, but the Blue Streaks boys' golf team captured its own version of a triple crown Wednesday at Fairways of Halfmoon.

Led by sophomore phenom Francisco "Ceko" Cupp, Saratoga Springs won the Section 2 Class A boys' golf championship, beating runner-up Bethlehem by 15 strokes.

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"We have this thing called the triple crown: Go undefeated, win the Suburbans (Council) and then win team sectionals," said Cupp, whose 1-under-par 71 earned him Class A medalist honors. "We've got two of them. This is the last one."

In the Class B sectionals, held concurrently with the Class A competition, Mohonasen won the team title by two shots over Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake. The runner-up included the medalist in Ryden Klatt (71).

Saratoga Springs finished the regular season 15-0 overall and 11-0 in the Suburban Council, then won the conference tournament by 19 shots over Shenendehowa.

"We have coined it the triple crown for the last seven years that I've been involved with the program," coach Jake Zanetti said, "and it's been something we have not been able to do with a lot of very good golfers over the last seven seasons. We're definitely happy. We're proud of ourselves. The boys earned it and did a great job today – and for the last two months."

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The Blue Streaks had four players earn Times Union boys' golf Athlete of the Year in a five-year period - Kellen Dean (2022), Will Braxton (2020), A.J. Cavotta (2019) and Nolan Crowley (2018) - but none of those teams could do what the current version did. Cupp carded four birdies, a bogey and a double bogey to edge Shenendehowa's Tyler Bowers by one stroke.

Saratoga delivered a message to its competition last week, placing four of its golfers on the nine-player Section 2 team that will head to the state tournament in June.

Those four posted the scores that led Wednesday to the Blue Streaks' 301 total: sophomores Cupp (71) and Michael Hakewell (76), senior Cole Whitman (77) and freshman Eliott Meyers (77).

Each school sent five players to the Class A event. The top four scores counted for each team.

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"Top five, and then you score four, which is OK for us, but our main thing is depth," said Cupp, who was medalist at last week's state qualifier. "Our (No.) 8 or 9 man could finish second here at team sectionals any day of the week."

Defending champion Shenendehowa finished third, 18 shots behind Saratoga.

Longtime Mohonasen coach Brandon Shoup, who earned his 100th career victory last month, said familiarity with the course helped his veteran team. Mohon had three players participate in last week's Section 2 36-hole state qualifier, also at Fairways of Halfmoon.

Each member of Mohonasen's scoring quartet finished within 10 strokes of one another: seniors Nick Mowery (75) and Thomas Gianatasio (85), and juniors Ryan McDonald (78) and Brady Bullinger (84).

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"They've gone through this, so we felt they had a really good chance," Shoup said. "We told the kids that we didn't need anything spectacular from them; just play your round, play what you usually play, and we'll be fine, and the chips will fall, and the kids played well."

Mohonasen totaled 322, BH-BL 324 and third-place Queensbury 332.

Class A results

• SARATOGA SPRINGS (301): Francisco Cupp 71, Michael Hakewell 76, Cole Whitman 77, Eliott Meyers 77

• BETHLEHEM (316): Rowen Chamberlain 76, Jonathan Lazerek 77, Micah Jones 80, Ben Ruth 83

• SHENENDEHOWA (319): Tyler Bowers 72, Vinny Romano 81, Maddox Aiezza 82, Jack Pickett 84

• NISKAYUNA (320): Keegan Mazuryk 73, A.J. Martin 81, Jake Lastarza 83, Tommy D'Allaird 83

• COLONIE (330): Brody Miclette 80, Jackson Larrabee 83, Eric Graves 83, Blake Defilippi 84

• GUILDERLAND (333): Mason Holland 78, Chase Pfeiffenberger 80, Parker DeLima 85, Cayden Smith 90

• SHAKER (344): Alex Knapp 83, Nicky Jadav 84, Luca Triolo 88, Conor Sorrentino 89

• COLUMBIA (348): Lucas Forand 79, Michael Moynihan 86, Riley Dedrick 90, Johnny McFadden 93

• BALLSTON SPA (350): Carter Eldridge 81, Mason Keyes 85, Liam Collins 87, Sam Bagan 97

• TROY (353): Peter Ryan 84, Brody LaPlante 89, Mason Berghela 89, Jaxon Maloney 91

Class B results

• MOHONASEN (322): Nick Mowery 75, Ryan McDonald 78, Brady Bullinger 84, Thomas Gianatasio 85

• BURNT HILLS-BALLSTON LAKE (324): Ryden Klatt 71, Brady Smith 83, Brayden Walton 83, Rowan Updyke 87

• QUEENSBURY (332): Jake Korol 80, Luke Holsclaw 81, Evan Monahan 84, Owen Murray 87

• CBA (337): Brennan Cain 80, Maddox Rogers 83, Carter Dean 86, Jonathan Foshee 88

• SCHALMONT (338): Ryan Muse 80, Andrew Mesley 85, Luke Iovinella 86, Eli Ellwood 87

• SOUTH GLENS FALLS (342): Hayden Knapp 78, Aiden Gibilaro 83, Aiden Manning 90, Alex Currier 91

• GLENS FALLS (351): Morgan Oliver 79, Maddie Oliver 84, Gannon MacDougall 89, Andrew Schwenker 99

• LA SALLE (361): Evan Minkiewicz 79, Braden Wessels 88, Woody Castle 95, Aaron Diamante 99

• AVERILL PARK (374): Dominic Traynor 81, Roman Badia 88, Landon Gaydushek 97, Ethan Archambeault 108

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This article originally published at Saratoga Springs, Mohonasen claim 2026 Section 2 boys' golf championships.